Photos: Iran Celebrates World Cup Qualification

- Streets of Iranina citieis were filled with young revelers for the second time in four days on Tuesday after the Iranian national soccer team qualified for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil with a win over South Korea. - 6/19/13

Photos: Tehran Celebrates Iran's World Cup Qualification

- Impromptu street parties broke out in Tehran and across the country as the soccer news spread, with people dancing, waving flags and honking car horns, the state news agency reported. State television showed pictures of people in the streets clapping and shouting "Iran! Iran!", and video clips of the celebrations appeared online. - 6/19/13

Iran wins ticket to World Cup 2014 in Brazil

- Heavy weight Iran's national football team has gained a precious victory over South Korea at a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier match on Tuesday. The Iranians took the lead in the 60th minute when Reza Ghochani-Nejad slipped the ball beyond South Korean goalkeeper into the goal in front of thousands of South Korean fans. - 6/18/13

Photos: Iranians Celebrate Presidency Of Hassan Rohani in Tehran - Part I

- People celebrated the victory of president elect Hassan Rohani in the streets of Tehran and other major cities including Bandar Abbas, Gorgan, Isfahan, Mashhad, Kerman, Qom, Shiraz and Tabriz. These photos show the outporing of support for Rohani and reform in Tehran. - 6/16/13

Photos: Iranians Celebrate Victory Of Hassan Rohani - Part I

- People celebrated the victory of president elect Hassan Rohani in the streets of Tehran and other major cities. Rohani was quoted as saying: "With their celebrations last night, the Iranian people showed they are hopeful about the future and, God willing, ethics and moderation will govern the country." - 6/16/13

Photos: Iranians Celebrate Victory Of Hassan Rohani - Part II

- People celebrated the victory of president elect Hassan Rohani in the streets of Tehran and other major cities. "This victory is a victory of wisdom, a victory of moderation, a victory of growth and awareness, and a victory of commitment over extremism and ill-temper," Rohani was quoted as saying. - 6/16/13

Photos: Iranians Celebrate Presidency Of Hassan Rohani in Tehran - Part II

- People celebrated the victory of president elect Hassan Rohani in the streets of Tehran and other major cities including Bandar Abbas, Gorgan, Isfahan, Mashhad, Kerman, Qom, Shiraz and Tabriz. These photos show the outporing of support for Rohani and reform in Tehran. - 6/16/13

Photos: People voting in Tehran

- Election centres opened their doors at 8 AM local time on Friday June 14 for the presidential and municipal elections. Voting stations numbering 66,000 in Iran and 290 abroad will remain open for 10 hours as 50 million Iranians are said to be eligible to vote in these elections. - 6/14/13

Photos: Voting In Iranian Cities

- People across Iran went to the voting stations on Friday to cast their vote in the the presidential and municipal elections. Election centres opened their doors at 8 AM local time. 50 million Iranians are said to be eligible to vote in these elections. Here are some snapshots from voting in different Iranian cities - 6/14/13

Photos: Election Campaign, Iranian Style - Part II

- In many Iranian cities, supporters of various presidential candidates have taken to the streets to campaign for their favorite candidate. These photos show the people in Tehran on Wednesday engaged in the lively campaign. - 6/13/13

Photos: Election excitement in the streets of Tehran

- In many Iranian cities, supporters of various presidential candidates have taken to the streets to campaign for their favorite candidate. These photos show the election excitement in Tehran which reached a high on Wednesday night. - 6/13/13

Photos: Election Campaign, Iranian Style - Part I

- In many Iranian cities, supporters of various presidential candidates have taken to the streets to campaign for their favorite candidate, under the watchful eyes of the security forces. These photos show the people in Tehran on Wednesday engaged in the lively campaign. - 6/13/13

Photos: Election Campaign In The Streets Of Tehran

- In recent days, supporters of Iranian presidential candidates have been taking to the streets to campaign for their favorite candidate. Photographer Arash Khamooshi has captured the excitement in the capital city Tehran. Iran's 2013 presidential election will be held June 14. Eight men were approved by the Guardian Council to run in the election, out of which two have dropped out of the race. - 6/12/13

Photos: Election Campaign in Tehran

- In recent days, supporters of Iranian presidential candidates have been taking to the streets to campaign for their favorite candidate. Photographer Fatemeh Behboudi has captured some of the excitement in the capital city Tehran. - 6/7/13

Re-imagining Eurasia with Slavs and Tatars: Critical Practices of Geography and Museum Exhibition

- Slavs and Tatars is an artist collective that works to highlight historical connections and regional linkages often overlooked due to rigid geographic boundaries. Founded six years ago, their work focuses on Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, or the broad cultural continent they term "Eurasia." -Beeta Baghoolizadeh, AJAM - 5/31/13

BOOK REVIEW: Shireen & Nousheen: Firework Wednesday, Celebrating Norouz, Getaway 13th

- Published in the U.S. in 2013, Shireen and Nousheen Firework Wednesday, Celebrating Norouz, and Getaway 13th written and illustrated by Mehrzad Karimabadi and Shahrzad Karimabadi are among the most prolific children's books. This is not the first attempt by Iranian immigrants to present Persian culture to youngsters. -Mahshid Modares - 5/24/13

Taste of Iran: Lari kebab recipe

- During the four years I lived in Iran, not only did I never eat Lari kebab, I had never even heard of Lar, the county seat of Larestan in Fars province. Four hundred kilometres from Shiraz, the province's best known city, it's not one of the more visited corners of Iran. -Tori Egherman, Guardian - 5/21/13

Iranian firefighter saves lives, even after his death

- According to Jalal Maleki, the spokesman of Iran's Firefighters Organization, body parts of firefighter Amir Abbasi will be offered to patients in need of transplants. Abbasi died during a mission in north Tehran after saving a girl from a fire in a residential complex. - 5/17/13

Shiraz shaken by keenly felt quake

- Shiraz was rocked by an earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale at 3:10 AM today, Monday May 13. Reports indicate that Shiraz residents ran into streets when the earthquake struck and spent hours in city streets and parks. - 5/13/13

One Dead As Strong Earthquake Hits Iran's South

- Iran's Red Crescent says an earthquake in southern Iran has killed a child and caused major damage, as well as numerous injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was 85 kilometers southeast of the town of Minab. - 5/11/13

NOW CASTING unique and culturally diverse couples for a new documentary that celebrates the way people seek, select, and marry their spouse

- Looking for couples who are in the courtship process, or are recently engaged. Specifically we are interested in hearing from couples and individuals who are seeking, or have experienced "modern day" arranged, matched, or traditional arranged marriages. -Hot Snakes Media - 5/10/13

Photos: The "Hopeful" and "Not So Hopeful" Candidates For Iran President

- Here are some of the "hopeful" and perhaps "not so hopeful" candidates for Iran's Presidential Election which is scheduled to be held on June 14. The registration of candidates for Iran's 11th presidential election started on Tuesday and ends on May 11. - 5/8/13

Conflict Kitchen: Changing Americans' Perception Of U.S. Adversaries, One Dish At A Time

- In the United States, Iran is better known for its nuclear ambitions than for its "fesenjan," the traditional Persian stew of chicken, pomegranates, and walnuts. Jon Rubin would like to change that. Rubin is the co-founder of Conflict Kitchen, a carry-out restaurant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that only serves food from countries with which the United States is in conflict. -Heather Maher, RFE - 5/8/13

Photos: Festival of Turkoman Horses

- The Turkoman horse, or Turkmene, was an Oriental horse breed from the steppes of Central Asia, now extinct. They influenced many other horse breeds, including the Thoroughbred horse. Some horses bred in Turkmenistan today are still referred to as Turkoman, and have similar characteristics. - 5/3/13

Photos: Tehran International Book Fair

- The 26th Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF), Iran's biggest trade show of books, opened during a ceremony on Monday. A total of 77 Publishers from different countries including Britain, U.S., Germany, India, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon are attending the TIBF this year. - 5/3/13

Photos: National Teachers' Day Celebration in Iran

- Iran marks Teachers' Day on May 2nd each year. This day was originally chosen to commemorate the martyrdom of Abulhassan Khan'ali, a teacher who was shot dead in a meeting in front of National Parliament during the Mohammad Reza Shah era on May 2, 1961. Later the Islamic Republic government changed this to commemorate the martyrdom of Dr. Morteza Motahhari on May 2, 1979. - 5/2/13

Iranian workers mark May Day with protest

- A group of workers gathered in front of Iranian parliament on the occasion of the International Worker's Day to protest against their inadequate wages in the face of rising inflation. ILNA reports that the workers held a protest demanding a reconsideration of the minimum wage increase which was approved for this year. - 5/2/13

Photos: Iranian Workers

- Iranian government refuses to allow workers to hold demonstrations to mark May 1st. In many countries, May Day is synonymous with International Workers' Day, or Labour Day, which celebrates the social and economic achievements of the labor movement. - 5/1/13

Falling currency raises costs for Iranian pilgrims

- Iran's Pilgrimage and Haj Organization says the cost of pilgrimage travel has risen due to the fall in the value of the national currency against foreign currencies. - 4/30/13

Kerman to receive desalinated water from Persian Gulf

- The Iranian Energy Ministry will launch a plan to desalinate water in the Persian Gulf in order to supply water to the southeastern province of Kerman in the near future. - 4/29/13

Iran Unveiled: Photos by Adam Jones

- What is the visual image that most of us have of Iran? Probably, it's a black-and-white vision of some medieval-looking back alley, with a dark-shrouded woman walking down it. Perhaps there is no other country where propaganda has succeeded in creating such a misleading and impoverished mental portrait. - 4/26/13

Photos: Prayer festival of 3rd grade schoolgirls in Gorgan

- These photos show 3rd grade schoolgirls in the city of Gorgan in northern Iran playing and enjoying their time at school. The girls also participate at a prayer festival held at school. -Mohammadmehdi Amya - 4/26/13

Mild earthquakes hit Iranian cities

- Three mild earthquakes jolted Isfahan, Shiraz and Azerbaijan cities respectively located in central, southeastern and northwestern Iran. Isfahan's earthquake in Golshahr district was 4.9 magnitude which came at 7:38 am local time, and Shiraz's was 4 magnitude at the Richter scale. They were both jolted on Wednesday. - 4/24/13

Photos: Quake Hit Areas In Southeastern Iran - Part I

- One woman was killed and 12 others were injured following the recent earthquake in southeastern Iran, governor of Khash city, Sistan va Baluchestan province, - 4/17/13

Photos: Quake Hit Areas In Southeastern Iran - Part II

- The southeastern city of Saravan, in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province, was once again hit by a quake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale Wednesday morning. According to seismological base of the Geophysics Institute of Tehran University, the tremor occurred at 09:23 hours local time - 4/17/13

Powerful Quake Hits Southeastern Iran

- Iranian and U.S. authorities say a powerful earthquake has struck Iran near the Pakistani border, with reports of scores dead as authorities begin to assess the damage. The Iran Seismological Center said the quake had a magnitude of 7.5, while the U.S. Geological Survey put its strength at 7.8. - 4/16/13

Iran: State of emergency declared in Sistan and Baluchestan after 7.5 quake

- State of emergency was declared in the quake-hit region of Sistan and Baluchestan province, Deputy Head of Iranˈs Red Crescent Society in charge of Relief Operations Ahmad Reza Shajiee said on Tuesday. - 4/16/13

Photos: Village Women in Andika, Iran

- These photos show the village women of Andika region of Khuzestan province in Iran, some wearing their colorful traditional dresses. The living conditions in many Iranian villages is still very primitive, and the villagers are deprived of many things the people in the city take for granted. - 4/15/13

How dots touch lives

- Iran Sepid, published in Braille language, is the sole media outlet for Iran's 700,000 blind and visually-impaired population. Iran Sepid, the only one of its kind in the Middle East, has been published in the past 17 years and enjoys a special status among the blind and visually-impaired people. - 4/12/13

Iran steps up relief efforts for quake survivors

- Aid agencies have stepped up relief efforts for survivors of a powerful earthquake that killed 37 people and injured 950 others in Bushehr Province in southwest Iran. Water and food are being distributed among survivors and about 2,100 tents have been set up in the quake zone, emergency officials said. - 4/11/13

Photos: 37 killed as strong quake hits southern Iran

- An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale on Tuesday struck near the Persian Gulf port city of Bushehr, home to Iran's only nuclear power plant. According to the initial official reports, at least 37 people were killed and 850 others were injured in the quake. - 4/10/13

Photos: Relief Efforts Underway In Quake Hit Areas In Southern Iran

- Relief workers from four nearby provinces have been dispatched to the quake-stricken areas in Bushehr province, according to Majid Iran-Manesh, the the head of State Crisis Management Organizationˈs Information Management and Disasters Center. The provinces include Fars, Kohgiluyeh and Buyer Ahmad, Khuzestan and Chahar-Mahal Bakhtiari. - 4/10/13

Rescue teams racing against clock as strong quake hits Iran's Bushehr province

- Rescue and medical teams are racing against the clock at the quake hit areas of Bushehr province. The early estimate indicates that the cities of Khormouj, Dayer and Kangan in Bushehr province have been destroyed by the 6.1 Richter scale quake on Tuesday. - 4/9/13

Photos: Iranians Embrace "The Year Of Snake"

- The new Iranian year 1392 (starting on March 21st) is the year of snake. So here are some snapshots of the Iranian people embracing the snake! The Snake is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac and related to the Chinese calendar, as well as in related East Asian zodiacal or calendrical systems. According to one mythical legend, there is a reason for the order of the 12 animals in the 12 year cycle. -Asghar Khamseh - 4/6/13

Photos: Life in the Iranian village of Souzan

- The village of Souzan is part of the town of Razan in Hamedan Province in northwestern Iran. Life in this village is simple but beautiful! -Hojjatollah Ataei - 4/3/13

'Stupendously Photogenic' Iran

- New Zealand photographer Amos Chapple has made three reporting trips to Iran since 2011. He visited areas that he described as "stupendously photogenic" but was more interested in uncovering unfamiliar facets of Iranian society. He said that every foreigner he met was taken aback to find that the real Iran differs greatly from the way it is depicted in the Western media. - 4/3/13

Photos: Sizdah Bedar, Persian Festival Of Nature

- Sizdah bedar celebrations stem from the ancient Persians' belief that the twelve constellations in the Zodiac controlled the months of the year, and each ruled the earth for a thousand years at the end of which the sky and earth collapsed in chaos. - 4/2/13

Photos: Iranian out in nature celebrating Sizdah Bedar

- People across Iran celebrated Sizdah-Bedar, the traditional Persian festival of nature, on Tuesday by spending time outdoor. Sizdah-Bedar, an ancient Iranian nature festival, is held on the 13th of Farvardin (first month in Iranian calendar) and marks the end of the Persian New Year (Nowruz) celebrations. - 4/2/13

Photos: Aerial Views of Sizdah Bedar in Tehran

- These photos show the aerial views of the capital city Tehran on the day of Sizdah-Bedar. The thirteenth day of the Iranian new year festival is Sizdah Bedar (literally meaning "passing the thirteenth day", figuratively meaning "Passing the bad luck of the thirteenth day"). - 4/2/13

Book: In Iran: Text and Photos by Adam Jones

- What is it like to travel in the Islamic Republic of Iran? In June 2012, Canadian scholar Adam Jones and his companion Griselda Ramirez made a 26-day, 7,000-kilometer private tour through the western half of the country, accompanied only by their guide, Mahmood, and driver Samad. They visited most of Iran's major cities along with many smaller towns, and travelled to remote frontier areas of Iranian Azerbaijan and Kurdistan. - 4/1/13

New Study Finds 7,000 Unlicensed Surgeons Performing Nose Jobs in Iran, Rhinoplasty Metropolis Of The World

- In all, more than 200,000 nose jobs are performed on Iranians each year. According to the reports, women as young as fourteen undergo rhinoplasties in Iran in hopes of achieving the same nasal beauty associated with famous Hollywood A-listers in America. -Babak Azizzadeh, MD, FACS - 4/1/13

Photos: Kandovan Rocky Village and Hotel

- Kandovan is a tourist village in the province of East Azarbaijan, near Osku and Tabriz, Iran. Its fame is due to its troglodyte dwellings. Some of the houses are at least 700 years old and are still inhabited. Kandovan is also known for its scenic beauty. - 3/31/13

Photos: Nowruz Travelers Flock to Bushehr

- During Iranian new year holidays, people flock to the coastal areas of Bushehr to enjoy the warm waters and the scenery. This is the busiest travel time in Iran, and any visitors live in tents during their vacations, which has become a common thing in many Iranian cities in recent year. - 3/30/13

Photos with Imam Reza

- The shrine of Imam Reza is visited by millions of Shiites each year, and it is among the favorite destinations during Iranian new year holidays. These photos show the pilgrims posing for photos to immortalize their visit to the shrine. - 3/30/13

Photos: Nowruz Gifts For Arasbaran Quake Victims

- Life in the Arasbaran region hasn't returned to normal yet, and the quake-stricken people are still in need of help. With the arrival of the Iranian new year, the most festive time of the year in Iran, group of volunteers visited the region on Wednesday and delivered donated gifts to the people so they could enjoy the occasion as well. -Masoume Fariborzi - 3/29/13

Photos: Iranian Family

- According to wikipedia, in human context, a family (from Latin: familia) is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...Well, here are some snapshots of Iranian family members for comparison against yours... - 3/29/13

Iranians sent 4 billion SMS for New Year greetings

- Iranian people during the first 48 hours of the Persian New Year sent over 4 billion SMS exchanges to greet Happy New Year to each other. A total of over 4 billion SMS sent within 48 hours considers a growth of 74 percent over last year and is a record for the Iranians mobile phone users. - 3/28/13

Photos: The best of Nowruz 1392

- The festival of Nowruz is celebrated by many groups of people in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, but particularly by Persians or various Iranian Peoples. It is called Navroz in India, Nevruz in Turkic, Uyghurs who live in Northwestern China call it "Noruz", and it is called Sultan Nevruz in Albanian. - 3/27/13

Photos: Bed and Breakfast, Yazd style!

- The central Iranian city of Yazd is among the favorite destinations during new year holidays. Some of the historical houses in the central Iranian city of Yazd have been converted to bed and breakfasts. These magnificent houses offer the travelers a taste of the old times in a very relaxing and calm setting. - 3/27/13

Photos: Iranian village of Laft in Persian Gulf

- Laft is an Iranian village located on the island of Qeshm in the the Straits of Hormuz, to the southwest of city of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan Province. According to the 2006 census, Laft's population was 3,899, in 765 families. Laft is more than 2000 years old, and it is among the destinations during Iranian new year holidays. - 3/27/13

Photos: Iranian Life by Amin Arjmand

- Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. The name "Iran", which in Persian means "Land of the Aryans", has been in native use since the Sassanian era, in antiquity. It came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia. - 3/25/13

Photos: Ancient Persepolis is a favorite destination for Iranians during new year holidays

- One of the favorite destinations for Iranians traveling during the Persian New Year Norouz holidays is the ancient ruins of Persepolis. Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid) was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550-330 BCE). - 3/24/13

Photos: 4th International Nowruz Festival in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

- Norouz international event was held in in the Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on Thursday. Nowruz (new day) marks the New Year for a number of regional countries, including Iran and Turkmenistan. The theme for the 4th International Nowruz Festival was peace and humanity. - 3/22/13

Farhang Foundation Nowruz and Short Film Festival Draws Thousands to LACMA

- On Saturday evening, March 16th 2013,The Farhang Foundation, in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), kicked-off its 5th Annual Nowruz (Iranian New Year) Celebration at LACMA. This year's festivities began with the 2013 Farhang Short Film Festival Awards Ceremony and Reception - 3/22/13

Photos: Iranians mark new year by the tomb of Cyrus the Great

- A large group of Iranians gathered by the tomb of Cyrus the Great at Pasargadae on Wednesday to mark the beginning of the new year. Pasargadae, the capital of Cyrus the Great (559-530 BC) and also his last resting place, was a city in ancient Persia, and is today an archaeological site and one of Iran's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. - 3/21/13

Happy Nowruz to All!

- I'm having a holiday sensory overload today. It's International Day of Happiness. It's the Spring Equinox. It's the New Year for Persians who have celebrated this holiday for thousands of years. And it's the last day of the Baha'i Fast, marking the New Year, or Nowruz (Persian for New Year) at sunset. I'm Persian. I'm Baha'i. And I'm all for spreading happiness. So, let's celebrate! -Homa Sabet Tavangar - 3/21/13

Iran Marks New Year Holiday

- Analyst Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute says many of Iran's political leaders, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, are trying to promote traditional Persian holidays like Nowruz to focus on nationalism rather than the more religious aspects of the country's Islamic Republic. -Edward Yeranian, VOA - 3/21/13

UN head praises Nowruz as unifying force

- The UN Secretary General issued a message on the occasion of Nowruz and the arrival of spring: "On this International Day of Nowruz, I offer my best wishes to those who celebrate, and express hope that all people can use the occasion to reflect on the beauty of nature, the promise of spring and the power of culture to build peace," Ban Ki-moon said in his message on Tuesday. - 3/20/13

Photos: Haftsin in villages of North Khorasan

- These photos show the people in the villages of North Khorassan in northeastersn Iran with their Haftsin spreads welcoming the arrival of Nowruz. A major part of the New Year rituals is setting a special table called Haftsin with seven specific items present. In the ancient times each of the items corresponded to one of the seven creations and the seven holly immortals protecting them. - 3/20/13

Photos: Chaharshanbeh-Suri Celebrations In Tehran - Part II

- Chaharshanbeh-Suri is an old tradition of Iranians practiced on the last Tuesday of the Iranian calendar year before the arrival of the new year Nowruz. Chaharshanbeh Suri is celebrated by jumping over bon fires while reciting short verses wishing their problems to be over and they gain the brilliance of fire. This is a purification rite and is a very popular aspect of Nowruz celebrations. - 3/20/13

Photos: Chaharshanbeh-Suri Celebrations In Tehran - Part I

- People celebrated Chaharshanbeh-Suri on on Tuesday night across Iran. These photos show the people in the capital city Tehran enjoying this festive occasion. Chaharshanbeh-Suri is an old tradition of Iranians practiced on the last Tuesday of the Iranian calendar year before the arrival of the new year Nowruz. - 3/20/13

Photos: City of Mashhad Welcomes Iranian New Year

- The city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran is welcoming the new year Norouz with eye-catching decorations in the streets. Symbols of Norouz and other artworks greet the pedestrians who sometimes pose with them and grab a snapshot of these festive days. - 3/19/13

Photos: Sarbedaran Ritual Welcoming Iranian New Year

- In the city of Sabzevar in northeastern Iran, an interesting traditional ritual is performed in the last days of the year before the new year (Norouz) arrives. In this ritual known as Sarbedaran, men move in a circle performing various moves with their hands and wooden sticks. - 3/19/13

NOWRUZ and CHAHARSHANBEH SURI

- Nowruz, "New Day", is the holiest and most joyful festival of the Zoroastrian year and the most important national festival for all Iranians. Its celebration is recorded from the Achaemenian period around 500 BCE. Nowruz first appears in Pahlavi texts from the Sasanian period, as nog roz. It is a celebration of spring equinox, when the sun begins to regain strength and there is a renewal of growth in nature. -Massoume Price - 3/18/13

Photos: Gilan Rural Heritage Museum Welcomes Norooz

- Guilan Museum of Rural Heritage is holding special programs to welcome the Iranian New Year Norooz. The new year begins precisely with the beginning of spring on vernal equinox, which will be on March 20th this year. - 3/18/13